Clare is workhorse on NT offensive line

Sports

Related Photos

DOUG BENZ/NEWS BIG BLOCK: Jacob Clare's leadership skills have helped the Jacks dominate the line of scrimmage this season and rack up yards on the ground. --

October 10, 2012

Clare is workhorse on NT offensive line

By TYLER CADY The Tonawanda News The Tonawanda News Wed Oct 10, 2012, 03:00 AM EDT

Tonawanda News — Football. Eat. Sleep. School. Football.

That’s the self-described life of Lumberjacks senior right tackle Jacob Clare — a three-year letter winner at NT.

When he steps onto the field at Clinton Small Stadium Friday night, one of those four pillars of his life will be nearing its end, as it’ll be his final regular season game.

Asked about what will take its place when it’s over, he only offers a shoulder shrug of uncertainty.

He’s not looking that far ahead, he’s only focusing on T-NT, because, he said, “it’s like our Super Bowl.”

Clare has experienced many ups and downs in his playing career, from having a different coach each of his seasons with the Lumberjacks, to beating rival Tonawanda in the two prior meetings between the teams.

Luckily for him there isn’t a better experience than the T-NT game to end his career on — as long as he adds to the Jacks’ 10-game winning streak.

“We just try and kick the crap out of each other,” Clare said. “This game is just a big part of our culture — North Tonawanda and South NT.”

The winning streak over Tonawanda has been one constant in his career at NT. Jacks coach Tony Truilizio wasn’t a familiar face, forcing Clare and the rest of the team to get to know him quickly. Truilizio was astounded when he got to know Clare.

“Jacob is probably one of the best leaders I’ve ever had on a team in my 20 years od coaching,” Truilizio said. “His leadership skills are unmeasurable.”

Clare took a leadership role amidst the uncertainty of the offseason coaching situation to ensure that the team was still preparing for the upcoming year. Truilizio was teaching summer school so it forced Clare and others to make sure guys were getting in the weight room and screwing around.

That work has spawned a solid rushing attack behind an offensive line that’s goal is to “kick the crap out of the people” lining up across from them.

The 6-foot-3, 240-pound, Clare likes to punish the defensive end lines up against him, embracing the challenge of creating running room for one of the speedy backs behind him.

“He should be Trench Trophy candidate but the problem is we only have one win,” Truilizio said. “To nominate him and get him that honor is difficult because we’re losing. But he’s definitely one of the best lineman in the area.”

Besides being a dominant blocker Clare is an honor roll student, and even an amateur cartoonist.

“I guess people say I’m artistic,” Clare said. “I’ll just draw pictures of other people, and we just bash on each other, mostly cartoons.”

Clare’s ninth period study hall serves as a comedic cartooning session with his teammates. His cartoons suffice to lighten the mood within the Jacks’ locker room amid a 1-5 start season, but winning games is still the No. 1 priority.

“I’m just going to miss strapping on a helmet and playing,” Clare said. “This has been one of the most important experiences of my life by far.”

Text Only

Sports

NT girl's track team set for NFL meet The North Tonawanda girl's 4x4 relay team is really good. So good, in fact, that Lady Jacks coach Sean Kibrick has a loaded deck when it comes to the 4x4 relay team -- six girls that are ready to blaze around the track whenever any one of their names are called.
May 22, 2013 1 Photo
Palladino's passion runs through THS softball A walk down the halls of Tonawanda High School leads to a staircase that goes down to an illuminated basement, where batting cages are full of players taking practice swings.
May 22, 2013 1 Photo
LeMar's win NFL doubles championship After completing perfect seasons in singles competition for the North Tonawanda tennis team, Andrew and John-Michael LeMar joined forces on Friday in search of their third straight Niagara Frontier doubles championship.
May 18, 2013 1 Photo
NT's Brosius leading way in late-season surge by Jacks It's been a long and, at times, trying year for the North Tonawanda baseball team. The Lumberjacks have only managed three Niagara Frontier League wins and despite good stretches, the team just never seemed to put it all together.
May 18, 2013 1 Photo
LeMar brothers ready for NFL tourney North Tonawanda's tennis sensations -- John-Michael and Andrew LeMar -- have a bit of a reputation around the Niagara Frontier League.
May 17, 2013 2 Photos
Gibson's walk-off caps Ken East win over West
May 17, 2013 1 Photo
Tonawanda wins on Warthling walk off Heading into the bottom of the seventh inning Wednesday night at Veteran's Park, the Tonawanda baseball team had erased a 5-1 Gowanda lead and were in position to stage a come-from-behind victory.
May 16, 2013 1 Photo
Donhauser pitches no-hitter for Ken West Shelby Donhauser never expected she'd end her high school softball career as a Kenmore West Blue Devil, but that made the feeling all the more surreal on Senior Night.
May 15, 2013
Lowery doubles up to lead Jacks to victory
May 14, 2013 1 Photo
MSM wins historic 100th MMA game The stage was set on May 10 for the Mount St. Mary lacrosse team to chase the program's 100th Monsignor Martin Association victory, but mother nature had other ideas.
May 13, 2013
More Sports Headlines

Sports

Search Results

Related Photos

Clare is workhorse on NT offensive line

Site Map

Contact Us